In the past, genealogy has been stereotyped as a hobby for the older generation; the mere mention of the word would bring to mind images of a white-haired grandmother flipping through dusty volumes of census indexes and faded microfilms. But with the advent of the internet, genealogy has grown into a popular hobby that attracts people of all ages. The possibilities for genealogy on the world wide web are endless, but unfortunately, the prices can be too. The following are five great websites that will give you the tools to find your ancestors, without taking a penny from your pocketbook.
Rootsweb.com
One of the best features on Rootsweb is the message boards. The boards are classified by surnames, localities, and topics, so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for or to post your own query. Go do a quick search for an ancestor’s name, and don’t be surprised when you discover a distant cousin looking for the same person!
Also featured on Rootsweb are individual county websites, which are great for not only learning information on the history of a county, but also for finding historical records and additional resources. Every county website varies in what it offers and is run by a different volunteer. Keep checking back, as the websites are updated often.
If you’re looking for a specific genealogy book, check out “Books We Own.” This is a list of books owned by volunteers who are willing to do quick lookups, all for free! Add your own genealogy books to the list to return the favor.
EllisIslandRecords.com
If you have an ancestor who immigrated to the US, you can search for their immigration papers on Ellis Island’s website. Along with passenger records, you can also find images of the ship they arrived on and ship manifests. Although there is a fee to order certified copies, you can see the originals online for free.
History and genealogy go hand in hand, as any serious genealogist knows. And EllisIslandRecords.com brings its history to life by offering timelines, photos, memoirs, and personal genealogy stories. Even if you don’t find a record for your ancestor, you can get a feel for their immigration experience.
FamilySearch.org
FamilySearch is run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or the Mormons. The Church houses the largest collection of genealogical records in the world in Salt Lake City, and even has plans to digitize all of their records in the future. For now, you can search their website for genealogical information in the form of family pedigrees, the 1880 census, the International Genealogical Index (IGI), and the vital records index.
You’re likely to get lost among the volumes of information on all of these websites, so FamilySearch offers valuable (and free) research guides. There are guides to not only the states, but also foreign countries. The guides offer instructions and advice on how and where to find records, so they’re sure to point you in the right direction.
Another freebie found on FamilySearch is the genealogy software, Personal Ancestral File (PAF). If you haven’t yet organized your genealogy, start now with this top-rated program.
You can also search the Family History Library, which holds the microfilms of all those records I mentioned above. Once you find a record you’re interested in, go to your local Family History Center (there is a locator tool on the website) and order the film. There is a minimal postage cost, and the film usually arrives within a couple of weeks.
CyndisList.com
So you’ve searched all of the great websites listed above, and have run out of ideas of where to go next on the web. CyndisList is your next stop. With almost 265,000 genealogy links, you’re sure to find your next lead. Website links are sorted by category, so if you’re looking for websites that may help you find your great-uncle’s obituary, you can simply click on “Obituaries” and find a list of subcategories and general websites.
Be sure to check out the category “Surnames.” By clicking on the appropriate letter of the alphabet, you can quickly see if there are any websites that feature the surname you’re researching.
CyndisList is also great for learning about general genealogy topics. Wondering how to keep your stacks of birth certificates and family bible pages under control? Check out the category “Organization.” Looking for a way to preserve a photograph? Just click on “Records Preservation” and you’ll have over twenty sources of information.
Also check out Linkpendium.com, another genealogy website index.
RAOGK.com
RAOGK, or Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness, is your source for volunteers. Using the internet, you’ve found the cemetery where your ancestor is buried, but you’d really like a photo of the gravestone, which is 500 miles away. As long as you agree to some reasonable terms on RAOGK.com, you can look through a list of counties to see if there is a volunteer in the area. Volunteers will list what services they are willing to perform, and it’s up to you to compensate them for any printing and postage fees. But they’ll do the legwork for free.
Return the Favor
Don’t forget that these websites would never be free without the generosity of volunteers. Be sure to return the favor by becoming a volunteer yourself, by sending an email thanking the website coordinators for all that they do, or by searching message boards for other people’s queries about individuals that you have researched and can share information about. However you decide to help, your services will be appreciated.
